Ice Cube Raises AIDS Awareness With Autographed Art Project

Legendary West Coast rapper, actor and television show producer Ice Cube has joined forces with a Los Angeles –based artwork company that will reproduce personally autographed artwork from Cube, with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the unique pieces supporting Los Angeles County AIDS and HIV support services nonprofit organization Minority AIDS Project as well.

RareInk – a charity-based company – and Ice Cube have teamed to creatively connect fans closer to their favorite artists with elaborate renderings of Cube’s album covers and photos along with specially selected songs that will be packaged with the original works. In a statement, Ice Cube shared his excitement being RareInk’s first showcased artist.

“Expanding the interaction with fans of my music by offering limited edition, signed artwork that they are able to share and enjoy with their friends and family is something I feel my fans deserve,” said Ice Cube. “With RareInk, music fans now have an online destination for unique, autographed art that they know is real. Not only does RareInk create amazing pieces of art that bring my albums and songs to life but a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Minority AIDS Project, an organization I have worked with over the past two decades.”

The artwork will be available for sale on June 22 via RareInk’s website and will feature nine pieces from a collective of celebrated graphic and contemporary artists in limited run quantities. Highlights of the pieces include two renditions of Ice Cube’s 1990 solo debut AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted and a mural-styled piece depicting his 1992 hit single “It Was A Good Day.”

There are also two editions of artwork that will have Ice Cube’s actual paint-dipped hand prints. As an added comfort for collectors, each piece will come with a certificate of authenticity and an anti-counterfeit label on the back of the collections.

Ice Cube will also join RareInk’s advisory board and hopes other artists will join him in this new effort. “The series is something I’m really proud of and I’m sure other recording artists are going to want to get involved, both for their fans and their charities,” said Ice Cube.

Ice Cube isn’t the first artist to introduce the idea of autographed artwork for sale to collectors. WAIL (When Art Imitate Life), created by King Tech, our own Sway and Los Angeles design company Scene Four, have done autographed original pieces featuring Wutang Clan’s The RZA, turntablist DJ Qbert, System Of A Down bassist Shavo and Bay Area hip hop collective The Hieroglyphics. However, RareInk and Ice Cube’s partnership is unique in that part of the sales of the art pieces will go to charity. No word yet if other artists intend to join RareInk’s cause and promote works of their own.